Out of the box

The Aldi Mattress in a Box is available in Single ($149), Double ($199), Queen ($249) and King ($299). Special Buy products are limited in number and stock will vary between stores.

This particular mattress wasn't available when we did our recent mattress reviews. But, because we know everyone loves an Aldi bargain, we flag what you should consider if you're thinking of buying it.

Plus, a few CHOICE staff who own an Aldi Mattress in a Box give their takes.

What's to like?

Price. With the double mattress coming in just under $200, it's one of the cheapest mattresses on the market (the closest in price we tested was the Ikea Hövåg which is $349 for a double mattress). So, if you're on a tight budget, it's a tick. And no haggling with a pushy salesperson required.

60-day guarantee. If you happen to get it home and you're not happy with it, Aldi has a 60-day returns or refunds policy on Special Buy items. You must have your receipt though and the original packaging is preferred, which is a bit of a problem with this one (see, What's not to like, below). Keep in mind, it takes a few nights, minimum, to adjust to a new mattress.

Comfort. The Aldi mattress combines a memory foam pillow top comfort layer with pocket springs, which some people prefer over a spring mattress as it moulds to the body for added comfort. However, comfort is obviously subjective and some people don't like that 'sinking in' sensation. The benefit of these types of bed-in-a-box mattresses that combine both spring and foam is that it can be said you're getting the best of both worlds.

CHOICE mattress expert, Peter Zaluzny, says: "When we tested mattresses, four out of ten online bed-in-a-box models earned a CHOICE recommendation. However, just five of the 26 mattress from traditional bricks and mortar retailers achieved the same results in our tests.

What's not to like?

You can't try before you buy. You'll have to save the 'lie down and see how it feels' test for when you've already bought the mattress and taken it home.

It's bulky and heavy, and Aldi doesn't deliver. The Queen mattress weighs 43kg so you'll need a friend to help you transport it - although the box does come with wheels and a carry handle.

On that note, returning it will be cumbersome. The product is a compressed mattress that expands when unpacked so it can't be repacked into the box, and you'd have to get it back to the store yourself (as opposed to online retailers such as Koala, Ecosa or Avatar who'll come and collect your unwanted mattress for no extra charge within the trial period).

12-month warranty. When you consider many mattresses (admittedly at a much higher price point) usually have around 10 years' warranty, 12 months seems short, and could be an indication of the manufacturer's faith in their own product. Similar bed-in-a-box offerings from Koala have a 10-year warranty and Ikea has a 25-year warranty on their mattresses.

What CHOICE staff say

Although this product hasn't been formally reviewed by CHOICE (see How we test mattresses), we spoke to a few of our staff who own the Aldi mattress, and here's what they say.

On getting the mattress home:

Getting the Queen mattress home wasn't too difficult. It was quite heavy, but nothing my partner and I couldn't handle. It fit nicely into the back of our small sedan once we put the seats down. Opening the mattress was kinda fun. We'd never bought a bed-in-a-box before, so it was quite remarkable that the manufacturer was able to pack a plush mattress into a much smaller box. Watch out for the rapid expansion and leave enough space, as the mattress becomes large and heavy surprisingly fast. Doug, Product Design Lead

I'd asked my elderly parents to pick it up for me as they have a van, but I didn't consider how heavy it is. They got some help in-store thankfully, but definitely don't try to buy this and get it home on your own. Rachel, Editorial

On comfort:

We have it on our guest bed, so I've only slept on it a few times myself and I liked it. All my guests have thought it was comfortable, even one who stayed for three months (I made sure to check!). Rachel, Editorial

I sleep on it every night and I never really think about it being uncomfortable. There are no lumps and it fits to the contour of my body. It feels plush and soft without being wishy-washy. I always get a good night's sleep. I normally prefer harder mattresses but I like this one. Considering how much we paid for it, this is fantastic. My only small gripe is that the edges are quite soft, which can make moving around on the bed slightly more cumbersome over a mattress with hard edges. Doug, Product Design Lead

Would you recommend it?

Definitely. For price, convenience and quality. Doug, Product Design Lead

Yes I would. Who knows what it'll be like in a few years time, but for the price, it's been perfect for our needs. Rachel, Editorial